Winchester

Congratulations to our April Students of the Month for Resilience! Student of the Month: Rees Williams, Charlotte Woods, Remi Dorsey. McKyni Maynard, Samaria Gavin, Faithlyn Booth. Jacoby Bigley, Sophia Carmean, Phoenix McDaniles. We also had several nominations from students and staff for this month for Resilience. So congratulations to our first Teachers of the Month: Mrs. Leonard and Mrs. Krueger!

It is National School Lunch Heros Day! We definitely have a superhero team here at Winchester!

Congratulations to Sophia Carmean, our WGS 2025 Spelling Bee Champion and Isaac Wellenrieter, our runner up! A big congratulations to all our competitors from 4th-8th grade!

Have you seen the cover for our upcoming yearbook? We only have 49 books left for sale, so order yours today at yearbookforever.com! You can also send $25 cash or check to the office to order a book.

Happy Principal Appreciation Day Thank you for all you do for our students and school district.

On Tuesday, April 29th, four Winchester High School students attended Senator Jill Tracy's Youth Advisory Council at the Illinois State Capitol. These students had the opportunity to meet with Senator Tracy, Representative Kyle Moore, and Representative CD Davidsmeyer in the Illinois Senate and House chambers. The students also participated in a mock bill group discussion and mock bill committee hearing. The students in attendance included Adrienne Kaufmann, Fiona Smith, Alexia Greiner, and Audi Brown.

The Winchester Junior High all were able to attend a very engaging and powerful assembly "The Beautiful Tomorrow" which was connected to a month long culmination of events encouraging that no matter what happens today, everyone can have a "Beautiful Tomorrow."

WGS spotlight! Our own Jake Williams is heading BACK TO NATIONALS! He is competing in the Hoop Shoot competition in Chicago against other kids across the country! We are all rooting for you Jake!

Thank you to all of our School Bus Drivers. 🚍 If you are interested in becoming a Bus Driver here are the steps: Steps for New Bus Drivers Complete an application form and have approval of the Superintendent. 1. Complete an 8-hour bus driver initial class offered through a Regional Office of Education. Bus Driver Training for classes in our region School Bus Driver Permit Training for statewide listing 2. Complete a 4-hour EDLT course. Drivers must have completed the required Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) from a training provider registered with FMCSA before being scheduled for a skills test. 3. Complete physical/drug test at MOHA MOHA (217 479-9071) is located at 1000 West Morton Avenue, Jacksonville (in Spfld Clinic Urgent Care) and appointments are required. Physical forms are available from the Transportation Supervisor or Board Office, and must be taken with you. 4. Complete fingerprinting at SOS approved vendor Pathway (217-479-2300) is located at 1905 W. Morton Avenue in Jacksonville. Forms obtained from the Board Office must be submitted in advance. Cost is $60. 5. Letter of Intent Applicants may be required to present a letter of intent, signed by Superintendent, at the Drivers License Facility. 6. SOS Application Applicants will be required to have a completed School Bus Driver Application, with an original signature of Superintendent on the Certification in order to begin the testing process at the SOS facilities. These forms are available for download here. The written Passenger Endorsement Test and School Bus Test can be taken at any Drivers License facility. Once these are completed, you may begin the behind the wheel training with our Transportation Supervisor. The final step is the driving test, which is taken in Quincy or Springfield.

NOTICE OF DATE CHANGE The date of the May 2025 meeting of the Board of Education, Community Unit School District No. 1, Scott, Morgan and Greene counties, has been changed. This meeting will now be held at 6:30 PM on Thursday May 8, 2025 in the Winchester High School Home Economics room at 200 West Cross Street, Winchester, IL.

Kindergarten Pre-registration today!

Winchester High School - March 2025 Students of the Month chosen on the charistic Integrity. Mallory Pratt and Caden Meyer ~CONGRATULATIONS~

Thank you to all of our Paraprofessionals in the District. You do so much for so many. It does not go unnoticed. You are appreciated. THANK YOU!

WGS Spotlight! Gavin Hamman has achieved a HUGE milestone! He has achieved the 200 point club for A.R.! We are all super proud of you!

Congratulations to our WGS students of the month for March! March focused on Courage! Archie Wahl, Gracelynn Sims, Kinsley Davidson Paisley Smith, Bryson Burrows, Lilli Fox Kylar Coon, Mackenzie Bigham, Daxton Littig

Mrs. Heather Lashmett's 2nd Grade Class - finding their special spot to read in the Library with Mrs. Kerri Day.

WGS was rockin it in preparation for our IAR state tests next week! WHS students and the drum line came over to help get everyone ready to "Rock the Test!"

World Down Syndrome Day 3/21/25 Wear 💙💛 (blue and yellow) or crazy socks.

The Winchester CUSD 1 Board of Education has selected Mr. Jeff Abell as the district’s next Superintendent of Schools. Mr. Abell who will begin his tenure on July 1, 2025, is currently the Superintendent of the Griggsville-Perry CUSD 4. The selection of Mr. Abell is the result of a statewide search conducted by the Board of Education. For the past three months, the Board has conducted a thorough and thoughtful candidate selection process in selecting its next superintendent. “We are pleased to welcome Jeff as the new superintendent of Winchester School District 1," said Board of Education President Steve Moore. "His experience as a superintendent makes him well-equipped to lead our district. He shares our commitment to continue to provide outstanding educational opportunities for our students." As a veteran educator, Mr. Abell has experience in improvement of student learning. Mr. Abell, a Bluffs native, has deep roots within Scott County - serving as a teacher, athletic director and coach at both Bluffs High School and Winchester High School. He had served as teacher, coach and athletic director at Winchester High School from 2008 until 2017. At that time, he received his administrative licensure and went on to become Principal at Northwestern High School, and then at Meredosia-Chambersburg before becoming Superintendent at Griggsville-Perry in 2022. “I am honored to have been selected as the next leader of the Winchester School District. I spent nineteen years teaching and coaching in Scott County and I am very excited to have the opportunity to return to a District in which I have such a deep personal connection” said Mr. Abell. Mr. Abell will replace Dr. Kevin Blankenship, who has served as superintendent since 2019 and will retire in December 2025. Mr. Abell and Dr. Blankenship will work collectively together to allow for a smooth transition during a very busy and exciting time for the school district.